Addressing Differences in Knowledge and Experience in Trauma Care Capabilities Among an International Team of Military Medical Care Providers in a Deployed Setting.

Military medical personnel are crucial in providing life-saving care at the point of injury (POI) in challenging environments such as combat zones and disaster areas. This article examines the specialized training US Military medical personnel undergo before deployment and the increasing trend of deploying as part of multinational forces in operations like those in Afghanistan with NATO and non-NATO countries. Integrating medical teams from diverse backgrounds poses significant challenges in maintaining a cohesive and efficient team due to varying trauma management training standards and medical practices among the allied forces. Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) training and the development of clinical practice guidelines (CPG) by the US Joint Trauma Service have been key strategies by the US Military to standardize care. However, the variation in trauma management training among NATO allies and the differences in medical subspecialties and approaches can lead to inefficiencies and reduced effectiveness in a multinational trauma center setting. For instance, the approach to trauma care can significantly differ between the US and European countries, impacting the interoperability and teamwork in multinational medical teams. To address these challenges, the article highlights the importance of standardized medical training programs that include cultural awareness to enhance the effectiveness of multidisciplinary, multinational medical teams. It also underscores the necessity for standardized international trauma training in the face of increasing global conflicts and the potential for large-scale combat operations. The article discusses the "Trauma Tuesday" program implemented in Kabul, Afghanistan, as an example of how intensive training and simulation exercises can improve team dynamics, knowledge, and skills in trauma management among a diverse team from various nations. The need for ongoing education and developing a standard for managing trauma patients in international teams is emphasized to ensure effective communication and coordination. The article suggests that multinational trauma training can significantly improve team cohesion and critical life-saving skills, essential for future battlefields where access to definitive care may be delayed. Further research is recommended to explore the best methods for achieving effective multinational medical team integration and training standardization.

Rapid Bedside Ultrasound Evaluation of a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm With a Prior Repair.

Ruptured aortic aneurysms carry a high risk of morbidity and mortality, particularly if not rapidly identified. We present an 87-year-old male, with a history of hypertension and prior endovascular aortic repair, who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with several days of epigastric abdominal pain radiating to his back and flanks. The patient acutely deteriorated in the ED, and point-of-care ultrasound rapidly identified active extravasation from an abdominal aortic aneurysm with visualization of prior endograft. Point-of-care ultrasound in this patient expedited the diagnosis, resuscitation, and transfer to the operating room with definitive repair by vascular surgery. The patient recovered and was discharged in stable condition.

Hypobaria during aeromedical evacuation exacerbates histopathological injury and modifies inflammatory response in rats exposed to blast overpressure injury.

BACKGROUND: Aeromedical evacuation (AE) is often used as a rapid and effective way to evacuate patients. However, little is known about the possible effects of AE on patients with blast and traumatic brain injury. In the current study, we used blast overpressure (BOP) as a method to introduce traumatic brain injury in rats and investigated the effects of hypobaria during AE on histology and inflammatory response. METHODS: Animals were exposed to a 12-hour flight 2 days after BOP and euthanized 48 hours after flight. Control animals were kept at normobaria. RESULTS: Overall, BOP animals exposed to flight demonstrated higher histopathologic injury scores as compared to control animals in lungs, brain, kidney, heart, and intestine. The BOP animals exposed to normobaria exhibited a proinflammatory response compared to those that were not blasted, an observation that was not seen in BOP animals exposed to hypobaria. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that AE 48 hours post blast may lead to impairment in the inflammatory process and worsening of long-term outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Animal research, level II.

Emergency Care in Maryland: The Expanding Role of Evidence Based Medicine and the Medicare Waiver.

The 2014 Maryland Medicare Waiver alters the reimbursement model by transitioning from fee-for-service to global payments for hospitals. This increases the need for hospital-based emergency departments to become more cost-conscious, particularly regarding high-cost imaging and admission decisions. Evidence based medicine offers a potential solution to achieve these aims. Development and use of validated clinical decision rules and care pathways can reduce unnecessary testing and reduce hospital admissions where a patient could be treated as an outpatient. Paired with functional systems incorporating alternative care pathways and health information technology, clinical decision rules can reduce cost without sacrificing patient safety or experience.